Merlin's not been himself since Will died. He's not the light hearted, air brained, smiling boy that Arthur fell head over sword for. He's withdrawn and sullen, his pale skin is almost pasty and his wide, loving eyes, are dark and full of regret.
But Arthur doesn't realise how bad it's become until Uther announces that he needs to send someone as a runner to the village under siege miles away - and Merlin volunteers. He bloody offers to go, into the fray of battle and Arthur practically kills him out of sheer annoyance.
But he doesn't and he watches the thin boy leave Camelot on horseback and Arthur feels his heart rise in his throat. Why did he have to care about such an idiot anyway? It hardly seemed fair.
Merlin was gone for days and Arthur was going out of his mind with fear. Morgana tries to comfort him - he doubts he's ever yelled at Morgana that much.
Five days later a trolley arrives in town with a pile of dead bodies and Arthur vomits all over the steps of Camelot - in relief - because Merlin's not among them.
Seven days later a battalion comes, demanding back up and Uther sends fifty of their best men. He makes Arthur stay behind.
Ten days after that a small figure on horseback rides up. He's got a long cut down the side of his face and his clothing is half-burned. It's Merlin.
Arthur forgets all pretences and runs down from the castle. He pulls Merlin's broken body off the horse and lugs him back to his chambers - ignoring Gwen and Morgana and his father.
As soon as the door closes, Arthur wraps his arms around Merlin. "Leave again and I'll kill you, I swear."
And then he kisses the broken boy and holds him close, thanking god that he didn't die on a fool's mission. Merlin spends the night in his bed and when he wakes up, Arthur's back to yelling at him, but he stops every once and a while to kiss him chastely or embrace him - reassure himself that Merlin's still there.
And twenty days later, Merlin's not so broken any more. Arthur has to smile, because he did something right, and he makes a note to give Merlin another long kissing session - because really, twice a day was not enough.
But Arthur doesn't realise how bad it's become until Uther announces that he needs to send someone as a runner to the village under siege miles away - and Merlin volunteers. He bloody offers to go, into the fray of battle and Arthur practically kills him out of sheer annoyance.
But he doesn't and he watches the thin boy leave Camelot on horseback and Arthur feels his heart rise in his throat. Why did he have to care about such an idiot anyway? It hardly seemed fair.
Merlin was gone for days and Arthur was going out of his mind with fear. Morgana tries to comfort him - he doubts he's ever yelled at Morgana that much.
Five days later a trolley arrives in town with a pile of dead bodies and Arthur vomits all over the steps of Camelot - in relief - because Merlin's not among them.
Seven days later a battalion comes, demanding back up and Uther sends fifty of their best men. He makes Arthur stay behind.
Ten days after that a small figure on horseback rides up. He's got a long cut down the side of his face and his clothing is half-burned. It's Merlin.
Arthur forgets all pretences and runs down from the castle. He pulls Merlin's broken body off the horse and lugs him back to his chambers - ignoring Gwen and Morgana and his father.
As soon as the door closes, Arthur wraps his arms around Merlin. "Leave again and I'll kill you, I swear."
And then he kisses the broken boy and holds him close, thanking god that he didn't die on a fool's mission. Merlin spends the night in his bed and when he wakes up, Arthur's back to yelling at him, but he stops every once and a while to kiss him chastely or embrace him - reassure himself that Merlin's still there.
And twenty days later, Merlin's not so broken any more. Arthur has to smile, because he did something right, and he makes a note to give Merlin another long kissing session - because really, twice a day was not enough.
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Thank you so much!
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